SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – August 3, 2026(Ghufran): Around 60,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate as wildfires continue to threaten communities in and around Spokane, Washington, local officials said Sunday. The Spokane Area Fire, which consists of three separate wildfires, has destroyed approximately 600 structures, including homes and businesses, according to authorities. Spokane Fire Chief Tom Williams said the fires remain active and have not yet been contained. A federal incident management team reported that the fires had burned about 5,390 acres (2,180 hectares) by Sunday. Despite the scale of destruction, officials said no deaths or injuries had been reported during a Sunday afternoon briefing.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the disaster as “the worst natural disaster our region has faced,” as emergency crews continue efforts to control the flames and protect affected communities. Approximately 10,000 electricity customers in the region were without power Sunday afternoon, according to Avista Utilities CEO Heather Rosentrader. State officials said more than 250,000 acres (101,171 hectares) are currently burning across Washington state as multiple wildfires spread amid challenging conditions.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced that he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump and requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support response and recovery efforts. The governor has also declared a statewide emergency, allowing additional resources and support to be mobilized as firefighters and emergency personnel work to contain the wildfires and assist evacuated residents.